HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Figures Only Full Text Free Full Text (PDF) Free Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Related articles in JEQ Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in ISI Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via ISI Web of Science (13) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Masarik, K. C. Articles by Baker, J. M. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Masarik, K. C. Articles by Baker, J. M. GeoRef GeoRef Citation Agricola Articles by Masarik, K. C. Articles by Baker, J. M. Related Collections Lysimeter/Rhizosphere Studies Soil Physics Vadose Zone Processes and Chemical Transport Ground Water Quality

SHORT COMMUNICATIONS

Improvements to Measuring Water Flux in the Vadose Zone

^a Department of Soil Science, University of Wisconsin, 1525 Observatory Drive, Madison, WI 53706
^b Department of Crop, Soil, and Environmental Sciences, University of Arkansas, 115 Plant Sciences Building, Fayetteville, AR 72701
^c USDA-ARS, Department of Soil, Water, and Climate, University of Minnesota, 1991 Upper Buford Circle, St. Paul, MN 55108

^* Corresponding author (kmasarik{at}uwsp.edu).

Received for publication May 26, 2003. Evaluating the impact of land use practices on ground water quality has been difficult because few techniques are capable of monitoring the quality and quantity of soil water flow below the root zone without disturbing the soil profile and affecting natural flow processes. A recently introduced method, known as equilibrium tension lysimetry, was a major improvement but it was not a true equilibrium since it still required manual intervention to maintain proper lysimeter suction. We addressed this issue by developing an automated equilibrium tension lysimeter (AETL) system that continuously matches lysimeter tension to soil-water matric potential of the surrounding soil. The soil-water matric potential of the bulk soil is measured with a heat-dissipation sensor, and a small DC pump is used to apply suction to a lysimeter. The improved automated approach reported here was tested in the field for a 12-mo period. Powered by a small 12-V rechargeable battery, the AETLs were able to continuously match lysimeter suction to soil-water matric potential for 2-wk periods with minimal human attention, along with the added benefit of collecting continuous soil-water matric potential data. We also demonstrated, in the laboratory, methods for continuous measurement of water depth in the AETL, a capability that quantifies drainage on a 10-min interval, making it a true water-flux meter. Equilibrium tension lysimeters have already been demonstrated to be a reliable method of measuring drainage flux, and the further improvements have created a more effective device for studying water drainage and chemical leaching through the soil matrix.

Abbreviations: AETL, automated equilibrium tension lysimeter • ETL, equilibrium tension lysimeter • HDS, heat-dissipation sensor

Related articles in JEQ:

This Issue in Journal of Environmental Quality

JEQ 2004 33: 799-804. [Full Text]  

This article has been cited by other articles:

				J. Mertens, V. Tuts, J. Diels, J. Vanderborght, J. Feyen, and R. Merckx Design and Testing of a Drop Counter for Use in Vadose Zone Water Samplers Vadose Zone J., April 14, 2008; 7(2): 434 - 438. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				F. Morari Drainage Flux Measurement and Errors Associated with Automatic Tension-controlled Suction Plates Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J., September 20, 2006; 70(6): 1860 - 1871. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. L. Pirani, K. R. Brye, T. C. Daniel, B. E. Haggard, E. E. Gbur, and J. D. Mattice Soluble Metal Leaching from a Poultry Litter-Amended Udult under Pasture Vegetation Vadose Zone J., August 24, 2006; 5(3): 1017 - 1034. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. A. Bonilla, D. G. Kroll, J. M. Norman, D. C. Yoder, C. C. Molling, P. S. Miller, J. C. Panuska, J. B. Topel, P. L. Wakeman, and K. G. Karthikeyan Instrumentation for Measuring Runoff, Sediment, and Chemical Losses from Agricultural Fields J. Environ. Qual., January 3, 2006; 35(1): 216 - 223. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. van der Velde, S. R. Green, G. W. Gee, M. Vanclooster, and B. E. Clothier Evaluation of Drainage from Passive Suction and Nonsuction Flux Meters in a Volcanic Clay Soil under Tropical Conditions Vadose Zone J., November 11, 2005; 4(4): 1201 - 1209. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. Mertens, G. F. Barkle, and R. Stenger Numerical Analysis to Investigate the Effects of the Design and Installation of Equilibrium Tension Plate Lysimeters on Leachate Volume Vadose Zone J., June 9, 2005; 4(3): 488 - 499. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. E. Ochsner, R. Horton, G. J. Kluitenberg, and Q. Wang Evaluation of the Heat Pulse Ratio Method for Measuring Soil Water Flux Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J., May 6, 2005; 69(3): 757 - 765. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				G. W. Gee Comments on "Improvements to Measuring Water Flux in the Vadose Zone" (K.C. Masarik, J.M. Norman, K.R. Brye, and J.M. Baker; J. Environ. Qual. 33:1152-1158). J. Environ. Qual., March 1, 2005; 34(2): 408 - 409. [Full Text] [PDF]